Weekend Preview: Peace, love, BBQ and all that jazz

Bandleader Christopher Dorsey is happy to be bringing the nationally renowned Dillard Center for the Arts jazz ensemble to the Hollywood ArtsPark for a free show on Sunday afternoon, saying it’s a venue that offers a unique outdoor experience for the students and the opportunity to reach a bigger audience.

And anyone who has heard them perform comes away a little awestruck, Dorsey says.

“Two weeks ago we were in Fort Myers playing in the state jazz band festival, and the room was packed when they found out my band was going to be in there,” Dorsey says, matter-of-factly. “A couple of other band directors said people were coming to see what all the hype is about.

“I saw guys leaving the performance shaking their heads,” Dorsey says. “When people get a chance to hear the kids live, they just say ‘Wow.’”

This is the fourth straight year the DCA band has made the finals in the so-called “Super Bowl of high school jazz competitions,” and they’ll be going for their third straight national title next month.

On Saturday, the orchestra will perform its “Sweet Dillard Jazz” program from 6 to 9 p.m. in the Dillard Performing Arts Auditorium (2501 NW 11th St., Fort Lauderdale). The evening of Ellington, Basie and a little funk and soul (and complimentary desserts) will raise money for the jazz education program and help finance the 25-member band’s trip to New York, which runs about $30,000. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door. Info: DCAJazz.com.

Sunday’s free performance at the ArtsPark in Hollywood’s Young Circle is from 1 to 3 p.m. Blankets, chairs, picnic baskets and well-behaved, leashed pets are welcome.

If all goes according to plan, the band will have a hot-off-the-presses CD, “DCA Jazz Swinging with Soul,” for sale at both concerts.

“They know they can play, but I tell them you’ve always got to be reaching,” Dorsey says of his students, who are from all over Broward County. “The thing about it is, my students sometimes can be harder on themselves than I am. Sometimes I have to tell them, ‘Remember, we’re playing the blues, but have fun with it.’ ”

LOVE > BEER?It was heresy, of course, when this weekend’s Midtown Craft Beer & Music Festival in Palm Beach Gardens changed its name to the Midtown Peace, Love & Wellness Music Festival a few weeks back. Priorities, people! But, reading the fine print, we discovered that the new festival also would go from a ticketed, over-21 event to a free block party for all with added entertainment and hours. Oh, and peace and love and wellness and stuff. “We’re going from beer bellies to belly dancers,” says Midtown spokeswoman Belle Forino, suggesting some sort of progress? Miami-based rabble-rousers Suenalo will be joined by the Nouveaux Honkies, Ellameno Beat and other bands. Friends of Christopher’s Kitchen, the raw and organic cuisine restaurant in Midtown, will be on hand with yoga demonstrations, organic samplings and lifestyle wares. The festival is at 4801 PGA Blvd. in Palm Beach Gardens from 2 to 8 p.m. Saturday. Info: MidtownPGA.com.

OHM MY GOODNESSYoga Fest 2013, a daylong Saturday event on Huizenga Plaza (32 E. Las Olas Blvd.) in downtown Fort Lauderdale, will challenge your ability to relax by inviting two of South Florida’s more energetic bands to perform: The Resolvers at 6 p.m. and the Spam Allstars at 8 p.m. Admission: $20, or $5 after 3:30 p.m. Info: 1111yoga.com/yogafest-2013.

ON THE RECORD Saturday is Record Store Day, a national celebration when vinylists’ dress up in their holiday garb (does this Husker Du T-shirt make my ass look cliché?) and drop as much cash as possible on new and rare releases. The list of new stuff on sale at Radio-Active Records (845 N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale) is too long to catalog here (we’re hunting Miles Davis, Public Enemy, Ani Difranco, Donny Hathaway, Steve Earle, Willie Nelson, Billy Bragg, Daniel Johnston, Vic Chesnutt, David Bowie and Dave Brubeck), but along with the records, there is free stuff. Miami live music hotspot Grand Central will be on hand giving away tickets (upcoming shows include Dick Dale, Peter Murphy and Suicidal Tendencies); you win an autographed copy of the XX’s debut album, or a lyric sheet from Iron & Wine; and there’s the Record Store Day poster with Neko Case and her quote: “Indie record stores were the only music teachers I ever had. The world would be dark and lonely without them.” Hours: 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Info: 954-762-9488, Facebook.com/RadioActiveRecords.

MORE NOISE The local Record Store Day after-party is Saturday’s Block X Blog Festival sponsored by Subculture and 3J Hospitality at America’s Backyard, Green Room and Revolution Live in downtown Fort Lauderdale’s Himmarshee District. The event features vendsors, video-game nostialgia and a wide range of music from Brooklyn’s Holy Ghost! and a who’s-who of local noisemakers, including Jacuzzi Boys, Krisp, Lil Daggers, Suede Dudes, Ex Norwegian, Plains, Sound Sleeper, Lavola (below) and the Riot Act. Admission: $25. Info: Subcultureus.com.

FREE AND CLEARPat DiNizio and the Smithereens, the New Jersey-spawned garage-rock quartet responsible for gritty hits like “A Girl Like You” and “Blood and Roses,” may have wondered if anyone was paying attention when they released "2011," their first album in a dozen years. Critics were, praising the release ("This set of originals shows that they're more than just a tribute act: They've internalized the lessons of their models, and still crunch harder than most of the power-pop acts they get filed alongside," said Rolling Stone), and so was Tom Petty, who liked the record so much he asked the Smithereens to join his summer tour. But first, they’ll play a free show at 4:30 p.m. for the Sunday on the Waterfront series at the Meyer Amphitheatre in downtown West Palm Beach. Info: 561-822-1515, WPB.org. Hit the link for an interview with the Smithereens' Pat DiNizio.

BLUES, BREWS, BBQ, BOSTONThings to do at the sixth annual Blues, Brews and BBQ festival at the Seminole Casino Coconut Creek on Saturday: TASTE the rib-sticking delights of some favorite South Florida smokers, including Betty’s Soul Food, Lucille’s Bad to the Bone and Spanx The Hog, while washing it down with a good, BBQ-eatin’ IPA from Lagunitas (Grab a Sierra Nevada Torpedo, if you are feeling particularly manly. Can’t say I recommend it, but the truly adventurous will pair their ribs with Chimay. ) HEAR hot, chunky blues from the North Mississippi All-Stars, Albert Cummings, Bonerama, Tab Benoit and others. WATCH the messy gluttony of celebrity judges including Tim “Tiny" Burger from 107.9, Steve Harmonfrom Big 105.9, Mindy Lang from Magic 102.7 and Dave Brewster from 97.9 WRMF. And, perhaps most important, KNOW that proceeds from all tickets sold through Saturday go directly to Boston Marathon bombing victims via The One Fund Boston, an organization announced recently by Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino. Seminole Casino Coconut Creek will supplement the effort with a $2,500 donation, and there will be a table inside The Pavilion collecting additional donations. Blues, Brews and BBQ tickets are $25 at Ticketmaster.com and include samplings (entrée servings extra) and entertainment. The event is 21 and older. More info: 954-977-6700, SeminoleCasinoCoconutCreek.com.

HEY, CONGRESS, SEQUESTER THIS! Even if Spain is the only country that can afford to send military jets to take part, the Lauderdale Air Show will soldier on this weekend, with top civilian jet teams (including the Black Diamonds, below) roving the skies over Fort Lauderdale beach. Viewing from the beach is free, but there are tickets available for various covered, VIP options. If you are on the fence about that, know that the Lauderdale Air Show will donate $10 from every ticket sold this week to charities that benefit victims of the Boston Marathon bombing. Info: 877-377-8499, LauderdaleAirShow.com.

MORE GOOD KARMAYou can sip for a cause and check out the new Dubliner Fort Lauderdale in the Himmarshee District (in the old Sidebar/PL8 space at 210 SW Second St.) with a group of like-minded folks when the Young Professionals for Convenant House get together on Wednesday. You get two free drinks, appetizers and spritely conversation for the admission: $20 advance online, $15 members; $25 at the door, $20 members. Tickets, info: YoungPros.net.

WET PAINTTwo additions to the city’s expanding mural project will be celebrated during the monthly Downtown Hollywood ArtWalk on Saturday from 7 to 10 p.m. At 2020 Hollywood Blvd., Evoca1 will be completing his mural “Posers and Dream Crushers,” while the Miami-based duo 2alas’ will start work on a 200-by-35-foot piece that makes use of the Mona Lisa at 1900 Hollywood Blvd. (shown in rendering above). The Downtown Hollywood ArtWalk takes place on the third Saturday of the month and includes live music and opening exhibitions at more than a dozen participating venues. Plus, free parking. Info: 954-924-2980, VisitHollywoodFL.org/artwalk.

GARAGE ADOREThe Delray Beach City Commission this week voted to allow the Arts Garage to stay in its popular Pineapple Grove location for the next 30 months while it raises money to buy the building at 180 NE First St. The decision came at a propitious time, as the Arts Garage celebrates its second anniversary with Saturday’s Gala Gig II, a fundraising night of food and drink highlighted by a typically inspired booking: the nine-piece old-school soul revue of Detroit’s Little Jake Mitchell and the Soul Searchers. Tickets are $100, $500 for a table of six. Info: 561-450-635, ArtsGarage.org.

PANTIES AND PONIESCheeki, a new “minimalist” intimate apparel brand, has joined forces with the ninth annual Miami Beach Polo World Cup, April 25-28 on the South Beach sand between 20th and 22nd streets. The opening-day event, the South Beach Women’s Polo Cup V, features eight women’s teams, including one sponsored by Cheeki, which “will debut in a three-product capsule collection April 25th on Cheeki team players” and on models on-site. General admission to the competitions is free. VIP tickets, which get you access to the shaded grandstand, free food and drinks, are $100 Thursday, $130 per day April 26-28. Ages 12 to 18 half price, younger than 12 free. Multi-day passes also available. Info: MiamiPolo.com.

Pat DiNizio likes things real. He buys his music from Vintage Vinyl in Fords, N.J. He buys his meat from John's, a family-owned butcher in Scotch Plains. He likes the "ritual" walk from his Lower East Side apartment at Seventh and A to the nearby rehearsal studio Tu Casa. He drinks next door at...

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